NASIG Newsletter

STRATEGY SESSION

MARC Holdings Conversion: Now That We’re Here, What Do We Do?
Sion Romaine, University of Washington; Frieda Rosenberg, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Ted Schwitzner, Illinois State University; Naomi Young, University of Florida; moderated by Steve Shadle, University of Washington
Reported by Rebecca Moorman

This panel presentation provided examples of holdings conversion projects from different local systems and the migration of existing MARC-formatted data from one ILS to another. Steve Shadle asked each of the speakers to answer three questions:   Why use MARC Format for Holdings Data, MFHD?  What were your expected benefits?  What lessons did you learn? Continue reading 23:3 (2008:09) 23rd Conference (2008): Strategy Session: MARC Holdings Conversion…

STRATEGY SESSION

Managing Divergence of Print and Electronic Journals
Beth West and Deena Acton, National Library of Medicine
Reported by Sharon Hybki Kerr

Beth Weston and Deena Acton presented an informative session on the trend of content divergence between print and electronic editions of serials; the role of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) as a National Library; and how that divergence is impacting the library’s collection, operations, and services. Continue reading 23:3 (2008:09) 23rd Conference (2008): Strategy Session: Managing Divergence of Print and Electronic Journals…

STRATEGY SESSION

When Did E-Books Become Serials?
Kim Armstrong, Center for Library Initiatives; Rick Lugg, R2 Consulting; Peter McCracken, Serials Solutions; Bob Nardini, Coutts Information Services
Reported by Glenda Griffin

A session on electronic resources explored the static nature of traditional print monographs as opposed to the serial-like aspects of electronic books.  Pertinent issues including access, storage, licensing, user interactions, monetary concerns and library budgets were overviewed briefly by each of the four speakers followed by a discussion between the session audience and the panelists.  Panelists included a librarian, an academic library market consultant, an electronic resource management vendor, and an e-book aggregator. Continue reading 23:3 (2008:09) 23rd Conference (2008): Strategy Session: When Did E-Books Become Serials?…

STRATEGY SESSION

What They Never Told You about Vendors in Library School
Christine Stamison, SWETS; Bob Persing, University of Pennsylvania; Chris Beckett, Atypon
Reported by Christine Freeman

This session was presented by librarian and vendor panelists who offered insights and experience to help insure that librarians get the most value from the librarian/vendor relationship. They also discussed the essential aspects and best practices for working with vendor representatives to reach the same goal.

Christine Stamison began by suggesting attendees investigate the NASIGuide, “A Beginner’s Guide to Working with Vendors”. She then went on to expose the realities of the subscription vendor world. These realities include that the representatives’ main focus is the bottom line. It is harder to make quota in today’s world. She also stated that in the past it was easier to recruit librarians to the vendor field, but that is now getting harder.  Vendors are recruiting sales people from other fields. Continue reading 23:3 (2008:09) 23rd Conference (2008): Strategy Session: What They Never Told You About Vendors in Library School…

STRATEGY SESSION

Innovations: Where Are They Now?
Selden Durgom Lamoureux, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and Beth Bernhardt, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Reported by Jane M. Bethel

This session provided updates on innovations designed to improve serials management. The presenters included how the innovations began, the problems each tried to solve, approaches to solving the problems, and the innovations’ level of success over time.  Innovations discussed included: SPARC, the John Cox model license, LOCKSS, COUNTER, SERU, SUSHI, and the TRANSFER Project. Dividing the session into fifteen to twenty minute segments kept this presentation fresh and especially engaging, ending with a lively interactive group discussion. Continue reading 23:3 (2008:09) 23rd Conference (2008): Strategy Session: Innovations–Where Are They Now?…

STRATEGY SESSION

Is There a Future for the Traditional Subscription-Based Journal?
Robert Boissy, Springer; Sean O’Doherty, Berkeley Electronic Press
Reported by Dawn Stephen

Robert Boissy from Springer presented the first portion of the presentation titled “Serials Business Models.”  In the legacy of subscription-based journals, institutional print subscriptions have been the gold standard. The model has changed to institutional access, such as consortia deals. As journals gain prestige and high manuscript counts, the impact has been raised rates; increased content; and a reputation for selectivity and quality. This legacy fallout has made it difficult to think flexibly with print journals and move away from traditional pricing models. Continue reading 23:3 (2008:09) 23rd Conference (2008): Strategy Session: Is There a Future for the Traditional Subscription-Based Journal?…

STRATEGY SESSION

Smoking Out the Big Deal: Getting What You Want Without Getting Stung
Donna Wolfe, PALINET; Narda Tafuri, University of Scranton; Nowella Owen, Springer; Rebecca Day, EBSCO.
Reported by Amy Carlson

Narda Tarfuri began the session describing the balancing act of managing a “big deal.” The big packages require libraries to manage titles they do not want while purchasing the ones they do. Tarfuri outlined the University of Scranton’s experience with SpringerLink through their consortium, PALINET. Their deal provided them with 1700 titles; caps on yearly increases to help budgeting; access to specified backfiles; archival rights that freed them to eliminate print; and a mechanism for obtaining new titles. Their usage statistics gave them specific data to help with collection development, which showed a significant increase in use, especially in unsuspected areas. They discovered changes in usage patterns, as compared to the print. Tarfuri discussed areas of concern with these packages: all or nothing packages; library budget and “deal” inflation not matching; lack of back out mechanisms; difficulty in allocating costs; lost access to titles removed; and difficulty in tracking titles. She suggested some ideas for libraries and for publishers to make these packages more flexible: non-forfeiture clauses to stop the clock; new pricing strategies; and guaranteed archival rights. Continue reading 23:3 (2008:09) 23rd Conference (2008): Strategy Session: Smoking Out the Big Deal…

STRATEGY SESSION

To Claim or Not to Claim: Claiming Questions in the E-World
Karen Decker, Swets; Gracemary Smulewitz, Rutgers University; Micheline Westfall, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Reported by Mavis B. Molto

Karen Decker began the session with a description of claiming as it has evolved over time with different formats. Claiming began with print only, followed by print with free/paid e-access, and finally e-access only.  Traditional claiming procedures are often followed for the print, with different procedures used for e-content.  The lack of e-access is often not noticed until it is urgently needed.  This is when your agent can help by providing online subscription tools offering instant claim entry and on-demand retrieval of information.  Agents could also help by sending claims to publishers and answering claim inquiries on a daily basis, with personal attention provided if the claim is urgent or complex.

Gracemary Smulewitz described claiming procedures at Rutgers University, which has twenty-six libraries and reading centers.  Print serials are claimed in the traditional way, using the SirsiDynix serial controls system.   Electronic resources are not claimed; instead, a reactive approach is used.  When e-access fails, the publisher is called and if payment is verified access is turned on immediately.  The serial controls system, however, is being considered for e-journal claiming, using three predictions. The first prediction to check on access at startup, second, to check for duplicate records one month later, and third to prompt renewal status at the end of the fiscal year.

Micheline Westfall described claiming at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where an evolution has occurred, starting with claiming print serials, then claiming only selectively, and now claiming again.  The reasons for the switch back and forth were: binding needs, fiscal responsibility for items purchased, difficulty in distinguishing between lapsed titles and title changes, and the needs of some disciplines, for example, art and nursing.  They discovered that many paid titles were not being received.  On July 1, a meeting is scheduled to develop a strategy for claiming e-issues. Continue reading 23:3 (2008:09) 23rd Conference (2008): Strategy Session: To Claim or Not to Claim…

STRATEGY SESSION

Shifting Costs in the Journal Publishing World
Nawin Gupta, Informed Publishing Solutions; Chris Beckett, Atypon Systems; Barry Davis, Sheridan Press
Reported by Virginia A. Rumph

Nawin Gupta regards scholarly journal publishers as facilitators and supporters of research and communication.  The scholarly publishing process is an endless loop starting with research formulation, creation, and expression which circles around again to more research formulation, etc., continuing to grow and improve through time.  The steps in the process have not changed, but the tools and methods used have.  In an ever-changing world journal publishing must keep pace.  All of the stakeholders, from authors to librarians, have been impacted.  The speakers’ agenda encompassed examining how needs, requirements and costs have shifted for publishers and service-providers, as well as fostering a better understanding and dialog among stakeholders in the journal publishing business. Continue reading 23:3 (2008:09) 23rd Conference (2008): Strategy Session: Shifting Costs…

STRATEGY SESSION

Real ERM Implementation: Notes from the Field
Karl Maria Fattig, Bowdoin College; Jeanne Langendorfer, Bowling Green State University; Jeff Daniels, Grand Valley State University; Paul Moeller, University of Colorado; Toni Katz, Colby College; Ted Fons, Innovative Interfaces, Moderator
Reported by Lynn Shay

This program was a panel of five librarians from universities and colleges that have gone “live” with an ERM system.  Ted Fons, the moderator, had six questions for the panel: (1) describe what the staff is doing differently in terms of workflow and organizational structure; (2) describe the goal of your ERM product launch; (3) describe the role that change management played in the project; (4) describe the major challenges to your implementation and the most rewarding solutions; (5) what would you do differently if you did it again?; (6) describe what you are doing differently for your patrons with your ERM implementation.

The ERM systems used by the represented libraries were Innovative Interfaces, Serials Solutions, or a combination of these two products.  However, the panel focused on the process not the system.  How long an institution had been “live” and when each librarian got involved in the process ranged from Colby College which went live in 2004 with its librarian Toni Katz being involved from the beginning to the University of Colorado which went live in 2007.  Its librarian, Paul Moeller, now serves as chair of the ERM Committee, but he was not involved when the process started.  Continue reading 23:3 (2008:09) 23rd Conference (2008): Strategy Session: Real ERM Implementation…